For those who relish the low costs and headache-free ethos of fractional ownership but can’t choose just one vacation spot, destination clubs, which offer residences in a network of locations, are viable options. Some clubs charge fees that simply grant the right to use those residences; others allow members to invest that money into the club’s growth. Though destination clubs aren’t immune to the economic crisis (the 150-member Lusso Collection filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December), equity-based clubs such as the Solstice Collection offer a way to buy into luxury properties while enjoying a worldly assemblage of homes and top-notch amenities.

"In fractional ownership, individuals are tethered to the rising or falling economics of one property," says Graham Kos, Solstice’s founder. "Versus fractionals or the majority of destination clubs, Solstice members are able to participate in the potential rising value of one’s membership deposit." The club offers three membership levels (bearing initial deposits of $615,000, $975,000, or $1.95 million, plus annual dues) for which members receive between 14 and 56 nights in destinations like Aspen, St. Bart’s, London, and the Swiss Alps. Each of the club’s 16 residences are one of a kind, and a handful are historic: Solstice’s latest estate, for example, is a former Pony Express outpost shipped to Napa from Texas, and Villa Dolce in Florence is the only private residence in existence designed by Michelangelo. Members may also spend nights aboard the club’s 90-foot private yacht. As Kos explains, because members’ deposits become equity in the club’s growing real estate portfolio, they are able to select a deposit reimbursement option based on future membership values, meaning members who choose that option today stand to profit off Solstice’s success down the road. 877.727.5535, www.solsticecollection.com